The South West African Defence Force (SWADF) form the military of the Republic of South West Africa and is tasked with defence of the country, its territorial waters as well as promoting the country's wider interests and supporting international peacekeeping effort, including providing humanitarian aid. The armed Forces is comprised of the South West African Army, South West African Air Force and the South West African Navy.

As head of state, the State President is Head of the Armed Forces and the Commander-in-Chief. By long-standing constitutional convention, however, de facto executive authority is vested with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence. The Prime Minister, acting with the support of the Cabinet, makes the key decisions on the use of the armed forces. The State President, however, remains the ultimate authority of the military, with officers and personnel swearing allegiance to the constitution.

The Ministry of Defence is the Government department and highest level of military headquarters charged with formulating and executing defence policy for the armed forces and the Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the armed forces.

Since the mid 2000's the Ministry of Defence under various Governments, have conducted a programe if modernization to maintain a national defence capable of adopting to the ever changing geopolitical situation.